Design and Building Practitioners Act – the law of Unintended Consequences

The new Design and Building Practitioners Act kicked in 1st July 2021. Its intention appears to be good.

However, we’re in the middle of planning a renovation in our apartment. Our DA has been approved, we have an architect and builder we like, and now we’re fine-tuning the details. New glazing, moving some non-structural walls, and lots of internals (e.g. kitchen, laundry etc). Exciting, but not major.

Alas, due to this new Act, our architect is no longer able to undertake our work without increasing the cost base significantly, either as a result of having to increase their registration levels or by engaging a second architect.

The new Act appears to be over-reaching. It appears to be written to prevent another Opal Towers and to deal with less than scrupulous builders and developers. We don’t fit either of those categories by any measure.

I would appreciate any tips, insights or workarounds that the collective wisdom of this forum may be able to provide.

Many thanks in advance.